Zambia FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ONLINE Internet penetration rose from about 10 to 17% in 2015, with mobile phone use increasing tremendously at 75% penetration by end of December 2015. There were no direct threats to online freedom in the reporting period. There was somewhat restraint from the powers compared to the previous year. There was no reported or observed blockage of websites and online news outlets considered to be critical of government. No bloggers or users were arrested. However, government continued to threaten closure of online media as most were deemed to be critical of government. Minister of Information Chishimba Kambwili stated on February 12th, 2015 that he would “close down the Zambian Watchdog at all costs, including the involvement of the FBI if that is what it would take”. Just days after he was sworn in, Kambwili stated publicly: “How can an online publication start reporting maliciously on an individual for 15 days, I can’t allow that to happen as a newly appointed Information Minister. If it take[s] the FBI to ensure that I close Watchdog, I will do so […] I have never started something that has failed, I will bring the Watchdog down that I can tell you.” LOOKING FORWARD TO 2016 The year was therefore a bittersweet year as most of the promises of liberalisation and media reforms that characterised the Patriotic Front’s rise to power in 2011 remained unfulfilled as at the end of the year. It is evident that the weight of the many repressive laws inimical to media freedom and freedom of expression bore down heavily on citizens and practition- ers alike. It is therefore important for stakeholders to continually advocate for the amendment or repeal of such laws in addition to other media reforms and adoption of the National Media Policy, which remained in draft form throughout most of the year. • It is hoped that the Access to Information bill will be tabled before Parliament after such a long wait of 13 years since it was initially withdrawn from Parliament in 2002. • Laws inimical to media freedom should be amended or repealed and these include the Public Order act among several others. • The 2016 General elections will bring renewed hope for media freedom activists as parties will be more willing to advocate for media friendly policies; it is hoped that this will not only be lip service as observed in previous elections.